Tub, tank, and other like receptacle.



No. 814,625. PATENTBD MAR. 6, 1906.

H. ROMUNDBR. TUB, TANK, AND OTHER LIKE REGEPTAOLE.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

HQROMUNDER. TUB, TANK, AND OTHER LIKE REOEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES HERMANN ROMUNDER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

TUB, TANK, AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed November l1 1904- Serial No. 232,349.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN RoMI'iNDER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating toTubs, Tanks, and other Like Receptacles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in tubs, tanks,troughs, and similar receptacles, and more particularly to a novelconstruction of such tubs or like articles consisting in overlapping anduniting under heat and pressure and by means of any suitable waterproofcementing composition sheets or plates of material, generally in theform of wood-veneer plates of any desired thickness, whereby they form apractically seamless, homogeneous product which when thus constructedmay be used for bath-tubs, washtubs, mixingtanks, troughs, and a greatvariety of other purposes; and it has for its objects to provide sucharticles of strong and durable character, combining simplicity andcheapness of construction with lightness of weight, which will not leak,chip, crack, or break nor swell or warp and which, owing to thecharacter and nature of the material used in their construction, willmore readily conform to the surrounding temperature, while the presenttubs, especially bath-tubs, being principally construct ed of metal orporcelain, much longer retain their ordinary cold temperature and veryfrequently chill the bather. To accomplish these objects, I form eachtub, tank, or like receptacle of a number of angularly-disposed andsubstantially fiat body-plates separated from eachother by curved edgeplates suitably secured to the adjacent edges of said body-plates andcover the several open corners with suitable caps or corner-plates. Bythese means the tub or like receptacle is pro- Vided with rounded edgesand composed of practically homogeneous and integral material and theinterior of the article shows an absolutely smooth and practicallyseamless and continuous surface. These flat body and curved edgeplatesmay be composed of any suitable material; but in practice Ipreferably use wood-veneer plates, consisting each of two or more layersof veneer of suitable thickness, the grain of alternate layers beingreversed and all the layers united by any suitable waterproof cementingcomposition-such, for example, as a compound of glue and potashwherebythey form practically homogeneous plates of wood which being shapedunder heat and pressure into a straight ora curved plate are muchstronger and more durable than a considerably thicker board with thegrain all running in one direction. i

To these ends my invention consists in the features of construction anddevices hereinafter described, and more specifically set forth in theappended claims.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like characters ofreference indicate like parts throughout the several views. Thesedrawings illustrate more particularly my construction, as adapted foruse as bath-tubs; but I do not, of course, limit myself to this class ofarticles only, as the same construction may also be used for theproduction of tubs, tanks, troughs, or receptacles for a great number ofother purposes.

Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of a bath-tub embodying myinvention, a portion of one side being broken away to show a side wallin sectional view as well as onemethod of constructing same by joiningthe bodyplates to the curved bottom edge plates and to the curved rim.Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionshowing the body-plates forming the side and end walls and the bottomarranged in position as separated from each other by intervening spacesand showing the said plates as connected at their adjacent edges to thecurved edge plates, this View also showing the open corner spaces orinterstices between adjacent ends of curved edge plates, the saidcornerspaces not being covered in this view by the corner-plates. Fig. 4is a detail, on an enlarged scale, illustrating another method ofjoining the curved rim to the body portion of the tub. Fig. 5 is adetail, on an enlarged scale, showing in sectional view a curved edgeplate D and a bottom plate B and one method of securing the corner-plateor cap thereto, the leg or foot in this illustration being shown asintegral with the cap or corner-plate, while in Fig. 6, which is anelevation of the cap or corner-plate, the foot is shown detachablyconnected thereto. Fig. 7 shows a further modification of my invention,representing in sectional view, on an enlarged scale, a substantiallyflat end or side body-plate bent over at its upper edge to form thecurved IIO rim, the bottom edge being connected to a curved edge plate.

A, B, and C comprise the body-plates of the tub or receptacle, A Aforming the side walls and B forming the bottom plate, both ends ofwhich are bent up at a suitable angle to form the substantially flat endwalls C C of the tub. DD are the curved edge plates which are connectedto and overlap the edges of adjacent body-plates. Each of these platesA, B, C, and D may be constructed of any suitable material, aswood-veneer plates, consisting of a number of layers of wood veneer soarranged as to have the grain of adjacent layers reversed, three suchlayers being ordinarily sufficient, though more may be used, if desired.The different layers may be held together by any suitable waterproofcementing compositionsuch, for example, as a compound of glue andpotashand kept under'heat and pressure until they assume their permanentshape.

The curved edge plates D D are cemented or otherwise suitably secured tothe bodyplates, the flat portions E E of said edge plates D Doverlapping a portion of the bodyplates, the overlaps being ofsufficient length to produce strong joints.

The overlapping portions of the edge plates D may be rabbetedsufficiently for the flat body-plates to fit snug therewith and producea smooth surface on the concave side of the curved edge plates, as shownin Fig. 3, or the overlapping portions of both the body and edge platesmay be rabbeted correspondingly to produce smooth inner and outer surfaces, as shown in Fig. 5, it being understood that edge plates D areprovided at each of the approximatin edges of the separate bodyplates,the en and bottom portions B and C in these illustrations being shown asformed of one integral sheet or plate of material, the end portionsofwhich are bent at desired angles without forming asharp edge andproduce a rounded edge similar to that formed by the curved edge plates.These wood-veneer plates, consisting of two or more layers of woodveneer glued together with reversed grain under heat and pressure bymeans of any suitable waterproof cementing composition'such, forexample, as a compound of glue and potash are water and weather proofand impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences and practicallybecome one homogeneous plate of wood, much stronger and more durablethan a considerably thicker board with the grain all running in onedirection, it being understood that the gluing together of two or moreadjacent layers, the grain of which runs parallel, while the grain ofthe remaining layers is reversed, does not change the nature of myinvention.

It will be noted that the approximating edges of the body members do notmeet to form a right-angular joint, but leave an edge space which isfilled in with a curved edge member that overlaps the edges of saidapproximating body members. Thus the complete tub or like receptacle isformed by fitting and suitably uniting substantially flat body andcurved edge members of suitable mate- Ila The otherwise open corners areeach covered with a cap or cornerplate,'as G, which is preferably madeof metal and provided with a number of perforations, as d d, by which itmay be securely screwed, bolted, or riveted, as by the bolts or rivets ll, to each of the plates D D adjacent to that corner which is covered bysaid cap. To make these joints absolutely waterproof, rubber or othersuitable waterproof packing material, as m, (shown in Fig. 5,) may beplaced between these metal caps and the body and edge plates before theyare fastened together, thereby producing an impervious joint.

As shown in Fig. 7, the side and end plates A and C may be bent over attheir upper edges to form a rim, as F, which is thus integral with saidplates A and C, or this rim maybe formed of a separate sheet of materialand detachably secured in suitable manner to the upper edge of the saidbody-plates A and O, as shown in Fig. 4. This rim F may be formed of onecontinuous piece of suitable material or a number of sections. l/Vhenformed in sections or integral with the bodyplates, rim-sections F ofsuitable form and shape, are preferably used and suitably secured to theadjacent rim portions F and to the upper end of the respective curvededge plates at the corners of the tub or like receptacle so as to form apractically seamless and continuous curved rim with a smooth uppersurface. When the rim F is formed of one separate plate of material or anumber of sections F and F, the joints of the rim or rimsections and theside and end plates A and C may be reinforced by an additional strip f,

suitably connected to the rim and bodyplates and covering the jointthereof to insure greatest strength and durability, as well as economy,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This rim may be omitted, if desired, and thestrip f also may be taken off or set flush with the upper ends of thebody-plates. Feet H H of any suitable material, such as metal, may beprovided on the said caps or corner-plates G G integral therewith, asshown in Fig. 5, or detachably connected thereto in any suitable manner,as shown in Fig. 6.

The tub, tank, or like receptacle may be provided with inlet and outletfixtures and with all such other fittings and accessories founddesirable conforming to the various uses it is intended to be used for.

This invention is susceptible of many mo diiications, and the details ofconstruction of this tub, tank, trough, or like receptacle may be variedfrom the above description-for instance, by making the bottom and endwalls of separate plates of material and connecting them also at theiradjacent edges to curved edge plates similar to those shown in theillustrations as connecting the side bodyplates A to the bottom and endplates B and C by overlapping the adjacent edges thereof, or by makingthe end walls and one side wall of one continuous plate of material bentat suitable angles and connecting the same, as Well as the bottom andthe other side wall at their adjacent edges to the curved edge plates,or by giving one or more of the body-plates a bent or curved shapeinstead of making same substantially flat without changing the nature ofmy invention, so long as substantially straight or fiat separate sheetsor plates of material forming the body-plates of the receptacle and beinseparated from each other by intervening spaces and curved sheets orplates forming the edge plates, and caps or corner plates forming thecorners are connected in suitable manner to form a tub, tank, trough, orsimilarly-shaped rece tacle. I do not, therefore, limit this specication and the claims to the precise forms of the invention illustratedin the drawings and hereinbefore described.

I claim- 1. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle, composed ofside and end walls and a bottom, forming the body-plates of thereceptacle, and being separated from each other by intervening spaces,and curved edge plates connected to and overlapping the adj acent edgesof said body-plates, and caps or corner-plates connected to and formingthe corners of the receptacle.

2. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle composed of a number ofseparate bodyplates forming, the bottom, end and side walls, and anumber of curved edge plates, the said body-plates being spaced apartand suitably secured to the said curved edge plates, the fiat portionsof the curved edge plates and the adjacent edges of the body-platesoverlapping each other, the overlapping parts, of suflic'ient size toproduce strong joints, being suitably secured to one another; and capsor corner-plates suitably secured to and forming the corners of thereceptacle.

3. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle composed of a number ofseparated body-plates, forming, the bottom and end and side walls, and anumber of curved edge plates, the said bottom, end and side walls beingspaced apart and connected at their adjacent edges to the said curvededge plates, which overlap and are suitably joined to the adjacentWallplates, and caps or cornerplates connected to the body and edgeplates of the said receptacle at the corners thereof.

4. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle, consisting of a numberof body-plates &

forming the side and the end walls and the bottom, and being separatedfrom each other by intervening spaces, the said body-plates beingsuitably connected at their adjacent edges to curved edge plates withfiat portions or flanges, the body-plates and flat portions of the edgeplates overlapping each other and forming strong impervious joints witha smooth inner surface; a number of caps or corner-plates of suitableform and material secured to and forming the corners of the saidreceptacle and legs or feet, suitably provided on the said caps orcorner-plates.

5. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle composed of a number ofseparate body-plates forming the bottom, end and side walls, and beingseparated from each other by intervening spaces, curved edge platessuitably connected to the adjacent edges of the said body-plates,reinforcingstrips secured to the side and end Walls at their upperedges, and a number of caps or cornerplates, suitably connected to andforming the corners of the receptacle, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle, composed. of a number ofangularlydisposed and substantially flat body-plates forming the bottom,end and side walls, and a number of curved edge plates, the said bodyplates being spaced apart and connected at their adjacent edges to thesaid edge plates, which partly overlap and are suitably joined to theadjacent bottom and end and side Wall plates, reinforcing-strips securedto the side and end walls at their upper edges, and a number of caps orcornerplates connected to and forming the corners of the receptacle,substantially as shown and described.

7. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacleconsisting of a number ofbody-plates spaced apart'and forming the side walls and end walls andthe bottom, and a number of curved edge plates, the said body-platesbeing suitably connected at their adjacent edges to the said edgeplates, the body-plates and the edge plates partly overlapping eachother and forming stron impervious joints with a smooth inner surface; arim integral with or suitably secured to the body and edge plates, areinforcing-strip suitably secured to the side and end walls at theirupper edge, and caps or corner-plates suitably secured to and formingthe corners of the said receptacle and being provided with legs or feetsecured in suitable manner to the said caps or cornerplates.

8. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle composed of a number ofseparate body-plates forming the bottom and end Walls and the sideWalls, and curved edge plates provided with flat portions, the saidbody-plates being spaced apart and suitably secured at their adjacentedges to the said edge plates, the Hat portions of the said edge platesoverlapping the edges of the bodyplates, a rim of suitable form andmaterial secured to the body portion of the said receptacle, areinforcing-strip secured to the rim and the side and end walls at theoutside of the receptacle and covering and reinforcing the joint of therim and the side and end Walls, and caps or corner-plates secured to andforming the corners of the said receptacle and being provided with legsor feet secured in suitable manner to the said caps or corner-plates.

9. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle, composed of a number ofangularlydisposed body-plates forming the bottom, end and side walls andbeing separated from each other by intervening spaces, a number ofcurved edge plates overlapping the edges of adjacent body-plates, and anumber of caps or corner-plates, all suitably connected to form areceptacle of great strength and durability and of light weight, theoverlapping portions of adjacent plates being suitably joined together,a suitable waterproof packing material being placed between the caps orcorner plates and the body and edge plates to produce Water roof jointsat the corners of the receptac e, substantially as shown and described.

10. An improved tub, tank or similar receptacle, composed of side andend walls and a bottom, formed by a number of angularlydisposed bodyplates, a number of curved edge plates provided at each of theapproximating edges of the separate body-plates and overlapping theedges of the said approximating body plates, and caps or cornerplatessuitably rovided with legs or feet and secured to and orming the cornersof the receptacle.

HERMANN ROMUNDER.

Witnesses:

CARL L. FIEDLER, PAULA RosEMARK.

